Scientology must be getting pretty desperate for recruits. The organization that boasts celebrity supporters such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta has literally gone underground in an apparent effort to dig up new members.

Devotees of the controversial church, which has been called a “cult,” set up shop working shifts with their E-meters shilling “stress tests” to passer-byes in New York’s Grand Central Station.

A concerned passenger also told CultNews that Scientologists could be seen doing the same around access points to the PATH trains, which links New Jersey residents to Manhattan.

Scientology’s “stress test” often utilizes an “E-meter.” This contraption involves holding metal cans connected to a box with a moving needle that supposedly measures the mind, or at least that what Scientologists believe as an article of faith.

The founder of Scientology L. Ron Hubbard reportedly claimed that the E-meter could register mental aberrations or “engrams” caused by traumas.

Counseling or “auditing” sessions within Scientology use the E-meter to help knock out those nasty engrams.

Hubbard once reportedly claimed this process could cure blindness and even improve a person’s intelligence and appearance.

Maybe that’s what makes Tom Cruise so smart and gave John Travolta his good looks?

However, it doesn’t seem to be working so well for Kirstie Alley lately. The star of the new show “Fat Actress” now weighs in at over 200.

But now back to the Scientologists working NYC subways for fresh recruits.

A concerned passenger told CultNews that the MTA transit authority was contacted to find out if it’s legal for these religious recruiters to go underground in Manhattan.

It turns out that Scientology may be breaking some rules.

“We regret if you experienced difficulty while using our subway system,” MTA responded. “Please be aware that the Transit Bureau of the New York City Police Department is vigilant in thwarting illegal activity in the subway system, and maintains an extensive police presence with officers patrolling our facilities at all times, both in uniform and undercover,” the official advised.

MTA also said, “Supervision in the Transit Bureau has been alerted to the conditions you reported at the 42nd Street-Grand Central Station, and will take steps to deploy their officers accordingly. In addition, personnel in our Division of Station Operations will monitor the location in question and any illegal activity observed will be reported immediately to field supervision.”

But why is Scientology so desperate that its devotees are working underground?

Can it be that its aging stars are no longer the draw they once were?

Maybe Madonna and her Kabbalah Centre “cult,” which includes Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, Ashton Kutcher and other younger stars, has effectively bumped the old Hollywood “cult” favorite.

Perhaps the subways may soon replace Scientology’s “Celebrity Centers” and the tabloids as the most common venue to learn about the controversial church.

Disclaimer

This news page is about groups, organizations or movements, which may have been called "cults" and/or "cult-like" in some way, shape or form. But not all groups called either "cults" or "cult-like" are harmful. Instead, they may be benign and generally defined as simply people intensely devoted to a person, place or thing. Therefore, the discussion or mention of a group, organization or person on this page, is not necessarily meant pejoratively.